Scientists are developing an app that could detect COVID-19 with a phone

A smartphone app may be able to diagnose coronavirus by using the microphone in the device to measure changes in breathing sounds, the developers claim. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania say, if successful, their work would provide a'low cost solution' to testing an entire population quickly. It is still at the planning stage so it could be some time before it is available in app stores - the team say they first have to design new'acoustic waveforms'. The technology will use artificial intelligence to examine the sound coming from human airways and determine if it matches those from COVID-19 patients. When developed the app will use existing hardware and computing power of normal smartphones to provide'non-invasive at-home testing', developers claim.